Best Cell Phone Service in West Columbia, SC

Comparing Cell Phone Plans in West Columbia, SC

Shopping for a new cell phone plan? It's definitely not tough to find one that has all the standard features and fits into your budget, no matter how big or small that is. Of course, with all the plans out there, it's easy to overlook a deal and end up spending more than necessary. That's why after you see a cell phone plan that you like, the best thing to do is shop around more and look for an even better one. That's where we come in, as you can check out all kinds of cell phone and plan options in West Columbia, SC on MyRatePlan. We're all about finding the best plan for you at a great price, while cutting down the time you have to spend shopping for cell phone plans.

Cell Phone Plan Options in West Columbia, SC

Many cell phone users have multiple purposes for their phones. In addition to regular calls, they want to send texts, browse websites, and use online apps. It's important for them to think about three major limits when comparing cellular plans. Carriers may enforce separate text, data download and minute caps. Keep in mind that the advertised limits usually pertain to domestic communication.

Numerous West Columbia, SC residents utilize cell phones for the vast majority of their calls. Some even use them for all internet browsing and email. They usually need high minute and data caps. On the other hand, people with corded phones or computers might favor low-end cellular plans that are designed for occasional use. MyRatePlan makes it easy to compare providers that offer either type of service.

Cellular plans can be classified into three groups. They include family, contract-free and individual plans. The most flexible option is the no contract plan. It's also known as month-to-month, prepaid or pay-as-you-go. Many West Columbia, SC stores sell prepaid wireless phones that people can begin to use at any time. The lack of a contract makes it easier to control costs and switch carriers when necessary. However, fees and cell phone prices tend to be higher than average.

Single-line contracts can only be used with one cell phone. Additional phones, tablets and notebook computers cannot communicate on the same plan. There's no need to worry about dividing up minutes or data among multiple devices. Single-line service is normally the least expensive choice for West Columbia, SC residents who live alone or have family members who don't use cellular phones.

Another popular option is a shared or family plan. It's more costly than single-line service, but the per-line expense is lower. A single data cap applies to multiple devices and phones. For instance, a married couple's shared plan might come with 30 gigabytes of bandwidth. If the wife uses 12 gigabytes, the husband could still download 18 GB more. Any limits on texting or minutes will also collectively apply to all family members.

Most wireless contracts remain in effect for 12 to 24 months. Payments are usually made on a monthly basis. The contract terms normally require customers to pay large fees if they decide to cancel before the expiration date. Pay-as-you-go plans allow users to decide exactly how much they want to spend and when they want to cancel the service.

Best Wireless Plan For Your Needs in West Columbia, SC

To narrow down your cell phone plan options, decide whether the plan is for just you or for multiple people, and if you're willing to sign a contract. Then, you can look through each carrier's plan options, which are separated by their minutes, texts, and data.

If you're okay with limiting your minutes and texts to about 400 or possibly even less, then you can score some of the cheapest contract plans. However, if you use your phone that much for talking and texting, you should go with an unlimited plan, as that gives you the most for your money and prevents overages. Prepaid plans are different, as you have to put money on your prepaid wireless card, and then buy minutes, texts, or data with the card.

Unlimited talk and text plans were once expensive, but now those are standard features on many plans, making data limits the biggest factor in deciding between plans. There aren't very many unlimited data plans, but they do exist and can be had in West Columbia, SC. Data plan pricing goes by megabytes or gigabytes. If you go over your allotted data, there may be overage charges, or your carrier could just charge you for the next tier of data service.

Compare Cell Phone Plans in West Columbia, SC

The major national carriers, which are AT&T, Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and Sprint, all cover West Columbia, SC. In addition, there are also smaller carriers, which are called MVNOs, that operate on the networks of those larger carriers.

AT&T has long been among the largest wireless providers. Its plan lineup includes all the standard options: individual, family, and no contract plans.

Verizon Wireless has the same lineup of plans, but with this carrier, you start by selecting either a prepaid plan or a shared data plan for a specific amount of data. An individual or a family can use any of this carrier's shared data plans, which all include unlimited talk and text.

Sprint has the standard plans available, but it also has a new family plan option known as the Better Choice Plan, which is unique in that it's available for friends and family. Another way Sprint stands out is its unlimited 4G LTE data plan, which is truly unlimited and doesn't have any throttling or overages.

T-Mobile refers to itself as the 'uncarrier' because it only offers no-contract plans for individuals and families. Its plans are called T-Mobile ONE and Simple Choice. They all have unlimited talk and text, and you choose the amount of data you want (if you exceed your plan's data limit, T-Mobile may throttle your data).

The major carriers have a strong lineup of plans, but there are plenty of other great cell carriers that have service and coverage in West Columbia, SC. We include cell phone plans from the MVNOs alongside plans from the largest carriers on our cell phone plan comparison tool that you can find above.